1999 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN. UNABLE TO START THE CAR. NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE KEY PHYSICALLY DOES NOT TURN. HAPPENED COMPLETELY RANDOMLY. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED TAPPING THE END OF THE KEY WITH A RUBBER MALLET, BUT I DO NOT TRUST THIS FIX. I NOW HAVE A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING MY FAMILY ANYWHERE FAR AWAY IN. TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY WAS THE ONLY REASON I BOUGHT A MINIVAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE STRUT MOUNTS. HE FEELS THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS WILL DETACH SOON AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 155,000. UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 1999 DODGE CARAVAN HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE STRUT TO BURST THROUGH INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. A AUTO BODY REPAIR MAN SAID THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS STRUCTURAL AND SAFETY ISSUE. IN RESEARCHING A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT HUNDREDS OF DODGE CARAVAN, TOWN AND COUNTRY, AND PLYMOUTH VOYAGER MODELS WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS DANGEROUS ENGINEERING FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE MAKES CONTACT WITH WATER, THE SERPENTINE BELT, WHICH CONTROLS THE STEERING, DETACHES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL CHARGE A SERVICE FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 6/4/09 *CN UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

A SALE OF A TIRE IN MARCH 2009 FROM A LOCAL DEALER THAT FAILED AFTER TWO WEEKS IN WHICH IT WAS MADE IN JULY 2001. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS BEING WARMED UP, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. SINCE THEN, THE HEATER AND POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/08/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO SHOCK RESISTANCE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION HOUSING THAT COVERS THE SHOCKS WAS CORRODING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 03/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR ROAD (M-59) AND MY MINIVAN MADE A POPPING NOISE (MY INITIAL REACTION WAS MY TIRE BLOWN) AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND ENGINE CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT NEAR BY. I NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING(WHICH LEFT A TRAIL AND A DECENT PUDDLE WHEN STOPPED). AFTER SPEAKING TO 6 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS THEY ALL STATED THAT THERE IS A PIN THAT IS KNOW TO SLIP AND SHOOT OUT CAUSING THE GEARS TO SLIP OUT THAT HAS BEEN KNOW WITH THE 99 DODGE CARAVAN .TWO MECHANICS BELIEVED THERE HAD BEEN A SILENT RECALL BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DODGE WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT. THERE IS A BRACKET THAT NOW FIXES THIS PROBLEM. I AM GRATEFUL WHAT HAPPENED DIDN'T CAUSE MY 6 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND I TO GET INTO A COLLISION. I TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE LADY, SAMANTHA, I TALKED TO WAS AWARE THAT THIS ISSUE DOES EXIST. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CONSUMER HAS TO EXPERIENCE THIS EXPENSIVE, DANGEROUS EVENT AND BE LEFT TO BEAR THE COST TO FIX THIS. ALL OF THE REPAIR SHOPS STATE THERE ARE BRACKETS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T OCCUR IN THE FIRST PLACE! THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS ABOUT TO FALTER. THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCE OF A FAULTY DESIGN. IF THERE IS SOLUTION THEN DODGE SHOULD HAVE/OR BE FIXING THIS NOT THE CONSUMER! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH I HEARD A LOUD THUMP. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE VAN STOPPED PULLING ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT A PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD BROKE AND TORE UP THE HOUSING OF TRANSMISSION CAUSING ALL OF THE FLUID TO POUR OUT ONTO THE ROAD. NO ONE WAS HURT BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THINK THAT IF IT IS COMMON DODGE SHOULD HELP PAY FOR SOME OF THE DAMAGE. *TR

OUR BELTS SIPS OFF DURING WET WEATHER"FIVE TIMES WE REPLACED THE "S" BELT AND THE TENSIONERS,WATERPUMP,OVERHEATING OUR 2ND YR OF OWERSHIP.NOW THE 3RD YR OF TRANSMISSIONS LEAKING,THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH W/CHILDREN IN CAR ,STARTING TO BRAKE CAUSING TO SLOW WAY DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND MADE A CHIME SOUND,THE HORN WENT OFF AND IT GOT HOT FAST CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. THANK GOD THERE WAS ROOM TO GET OVER. ALL THE LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING ALL OVER THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR JUST LEAKS EVERYWHERE,WATER,OIL,TRANS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THESE CARS. I CANT EVEN GET MINE SMOG BECAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP UNPLUGGING MY BATTERY BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOMEWHERE. I BROUGHT A LEMON.....OH YEAH! I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY CANT REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNLESS THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. I HOPE I DON'T DIE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS WONT WORK BECAUSE I HAVE A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. 2 BATTERIES WERE REPLACED,ALTERNATOR TOO. THE CLOCKSPRING WONT WORK FOR MY CAR ONLY THE CRUISE CONTROL SO SAID THE DEALER. I WOULD FEEL BAD SELLING THIS CAR TO A FAMILY ,CAUSE WHAT IF THEY WERE KILLED. I COULDN'T DEAL WITH THAT. THE DAY THAT HAPPENED WAS ON MY DAUGHTER 16TH BIRTHDAY. I HAD TO STOP EVERYWHERE ALL DAY TO PUT WATER IN THE RADIATOR JUST TO KEEP IT COOL ENOUGH NOT TO RUIN HER DAY. I HATE HOT DAYS,I FEAR THE RAINY DAYS, I CANT SEE AT NIGHT CAUSE MY HEADLIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE BURNED OUT AND THE COVERS HAS A GLASS OVER THEM. *TR